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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Body fat distribution in childhood obesity: association with metabolic risk factors

Serap Semiz1, Ercin Ozgoren, Nuran Sabir

  • 1Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Pamukkale University School of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey. drssemiz@yahoo.com

Indian Pediatrics
|July 5, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Abdominal subcutaneous fat is linked to higher insulin levels in obese children. This fat measurement may predict hyperinsulinemia risk, but blood pressure and lipids showed no significant correlation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Health
  • Body Composition Analysis

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing concern with significant metabolic implications.
  • Understanding body fat distribution is crucial for assessing health risks in obese children.
  • Subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat depots may differentially impact metabolic health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical significance of body fat distribution in childhood obesity.
  • To examine associations between subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat with metabolic risk factors.
  • To determine if specific fat depots predict metabolic abnormalities.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 51 obese and 33 non-obese children (ages 11-12).
  • Ultrasonography was used to measure preperitoneal, visceral, and subcutaneous fat thicknesses.
  • Metabolic risk factors including blood pressure, lipid profiles, and insulin resistance (HOMA IR) were assessed.

Main Results:

  • In obese children, fasting insulin and HOMA IR correlated with minimum and maximum subcutaneous fat (Smin, Smax) and minimum preperitoneal fat (Pmin).
  • No significant correlation was found between insulin levels/HOMA IR and maximum preperitoneal (Pmax) or visceral fat thickness (V).
  • Abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness was the strongest predictor of hyperinsulinemia (R²=0.32).

Conclusions:

  • Abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness shows potential as a predictor for hyperinsulinemia risk in childhood obesity.
  • Blood pressure and lipid parameters did not show significant correlations with body fat distribution in this obese cohort.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the complex relationship between fat depots and metabolic health in pediatric obesity.
Abstract

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